Why the Wallabies must follow Fabien Galthie’s ‘tough love’ move and where the ‘smart money’ is this Super Rugby weekend
Would the Wallabies benefit from some tough love?
Joe Schmidt has a decision to make for the July Tests: pick on form or reputation. Currently, several Wallabies regulars don’t deserve to be walk-up starters ahead of the nation’s season opener against Ireland in Sydney on July 4.
That’s in part because of the strong form of fringe players, including Reds duo Josh Flook and Jock Campbell, but it’s also because some haven’t quite hit their straps like Allan Alaalatoa (back), Nick Frost (knee) and Tom Wright (knee).
Hooker Billy Pollard is another who has struggled with his set-piece and incumbent Test half-back Jake Gordon had morphed into a one-trick pony before suffering a devastating Achilles injury last weekend.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was another whose form and confidence had deserted him until his stunning performance against the Western Force last weekend. But Schmidt will have to decide how many of the aforementioned players he can carry because there is a difference between backing one or two men to lift rather than a handful.
Alaalatoa will undoubtedly be picked because there are few other options. Wright’s ceiling, his communication and the fact the Wallabies struggled without him in the second half of last season, will likely see him picked in the No.15 jersey too. But would the Wallabies benefit from some tough love?
French head coach Fabian Galthié ruffled plenty of feathers and surprised many when he left Gregory Alldritt and Damian Penaud out of his squad for the Six Nations. They went on to win it – and, as a result, found out more about their wider squad depth.
Would Schmidt, who will hand over the coaching reins following the three Nations Championship Tests in July, help Les Kiss by doing the same and giving others a chance to step up? Gordon’s injury has at least made it a clear-cut decision to start Ryan Lonergan. Anything else would be preposterous.
The Brumbies number nine not only has the best pass in the country (his triple cut-out ahead of Luke Reimer’s try against Moana Pasifika was another beauty), his running game has improved, his goal-kicking is around 75 per cent and he is also a respected leader who could easily captain the Wallabies. Indeed, it was not a surprise that the Brumbies coughed up another lead when he departed.
Ben Donaldson, too, is unlikely to start against Ireland despite his consistency in 2026, with Carter Gordon, who has built into the season, expected to be handed the number 10 jersey.
Whether Tane Edmed, who started four of the Wallabies’ last six Tests in 2025, is given the same grace from Schmidt remains to be seen, but it would be extraordinary if he was picked in the wider squad in light of the sparing minutes he has received from Stephen Larkham.
Christy Doran’s Australian Super Rugby team of the year
15 Jock Campbell, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Jeremy Williams, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 James Slipper
Suaalii finally stands up
In a losing outfit, Suaalii was the best player on the field. Carlo Tizzano might have scored a brace, Jeremy Williams dominated the lineout and Dylan Pietsch danced around a few overtracking defenders, but Suaalii was simply awesome in every area of his game.
From regathering kicks (2nd and 68th minutes), bulldozing defenders (65th minute) and smashing blokes in attack (Mac Grealy in the 16th and 45th minutes, as well as George Bridge in the 50th minute), Suaalii played as if he had a bee under his bonnet against the Force.
It was his best performance since debuting against England in Twickenham. In fact, it might have even eclipsed that performance because on that afternoon he played simply on instinct. Against the Force, he knew what lines to run and what defenders to hit.
The performance showed that Suaalii, at his best, is clearly a walk-up starter for the Wallabies, even though Flook will likely end up in the wider squad. Whether Kiss sees Suaalii as an outside centre, however, remains to be seen.
Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for world-class coverage you can trust
Moana Pasifika expose Aussie rugby Achilles heel – again
From poor first-up tackles to shocking set-piece work, there was little going for the Brumbies in their forgettable loss to Moana Pasifika last weekend. Had either Wright or Rob Valetini’s passes in the second half gone backward, the Brumbies would likely have kicked on from the certain five-pointers.
Ultimately, they didn’t, and the rest is history. But the manner of the defeat, especially in the first half, once again not only exposed the Brumbies’ poor defence but also their lack of physicality and fight.
Those missing ingredients are often missing when Australian rugby sides lose, and it’s in large part because they’re relying on their pack to set the tone.
That’s not always easy with lightweight packs across the board – and there’s no escaping that with Australian rugby, with the Wallabies lacking the depth of several other tier-one nations up front.
Element national selectors will want to see in Qualifying Finals
Given Australian sides are 0-21 in knockout footy across the ditch, the smart money says it’ll be an all-New Zealand semi-finals shut out in 2026.
But that doesn’t mean Australian rugby can’t find out a thing or two – or even surprise their opponents in a daunting opening weekend of knockout rugby.
Schmidt’s coaching team will want to see his men fire a shot, especially given the physical threat coming for both sides from New Zealand’s two best sides in 2026.
Two years ago, the Reds were never in the hunt against the Chiefs, as they were bullied up front. That can’t occur again if the Reds want to make the semi-finals for the first time since 2011.
Winning the gain line and securing quick ball will be crucial to the Brumbies’ and Reds’ chances, but just as importantly will be securing possession from the set-piece. In a repeat of their struggles in Super Round against the Hurricanes in late April, the Brumbies lost five lineouts against Moana and shoring up that area of the game is priority No.1.
The Reds only lost two lineouts against the Drua, but after struggling in the set-piece area all season, there is no doubt the Chiefs, led by All Blacks lock Tupou Vaa’i, will go after Kiss’ side in the area.
Forgotten Wallaby who remains in RA’s sights
He hasn’t played for the Wallabies since the 2023 World Cup, but Jordan Petaia showed his quality for Perpignan over the weekend. The utility back helped set up a last-minute try against Castres when he popped up at full-back on the fringes and fended off a defender before passing the ball back on the inside to set up the match-winner.
The moment once again showed the 26-year-old’s skill and athleticism. It’s why Rugby Australia’s high performance team, especially incoming coach Kiss, who had Petaia at the Reds for a season, hasn’t forgotten about his potency.
While the focus has been on forwards Taniela Tupou and Tom Hooper as overseas picks for the July Tests, don’t rule out Petaia from being plucked out of Japan at some stage throughout 2026.
Christy Doran’s Australian Super Rugby team of the week
15 Max Jorgensen, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Filipo Daugunu, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Vailoini Ekuasi, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Seru Uru, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Misinale Epenisa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Harry Johnson-Holmes
READ MORE: Ben O’Keeffe wants World Rugby to ‘innovate’ by exploring ‘important avenue’ that fans will ‘love’